Blood cholesterol measurement

E405 A Report from the Laboratory Standardization Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program (1988). Current Status of Blood Cholesterol Measurement in Clinical Laboratories in the United States. A. Overview and Recommendations. Clin. Chem. 34, 193-201. 

Carleton, R.A. (1989). Performance characteristics of a blood cholesterol measuring instrument used in screening programs. Public Health Rep. 104, 266 270. 

E546 McManus, B.M., Toth, A.B., Engel, J.A., Myers, G.L., Naito, H.K., Wilson, J.E. and Cooper, G.R. (1989). Progress in lipid reporting practices and reliability of blood cholesterol measurement in clinical laboratories in Nebraska. JAMA 262, 83-88. 

ENl 15 Malavasi, B., Catapano, A., Galli, G. and Franzini, C. (1992). A collaborative trial for the evaluation of blood cholesterol measurement in clinical laboratories in Italy. Europ. J. Clin. Chem, Clin. Biochem. 30, 157-161. 

R149 Lefebvre, R.C., Lasater, T.H., McRinlay, S.M., Cans, R.M., Walker, N. and Carleton, R.A. (1989). Performance characteristics of a blood cholesterol measuring instrument used in screening programs. Public Health Rep. 104, 266-270. 

Cholesterol in blood is measured in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. If the unit of measurement were changed to grams of cholesterol per milliliter of blood, what would a cholesterol reading of 185 mg/dL translate to ... 

Although both LDL and HDL are primarily cholesterol particles, most of the cholesterol measured in the blood is assodated with LDL. The normal role of LDL is to deliver cholesterol to tissues for biosynthesis. When a cell is repairing membrane or dividing, the cholesterol is required for membrane synthesis. Bile acids and salts are made from cholesterol in the liver, and many other tissues require some cholesterol for steroid synthesis. As shown in Figure 1-15-6, about 80% of LDL are picked up by hepatocytes, the remainder by peripheral tissues. ApoB-100 is the only apoprotein on LDL, and endocytosis of LDL is mediated by apoB-100 receptors (LDL receptors) clustered in areas of cell membranes lined with the protdn clathrin. 

Total blood cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL HDL 35 mg/dL or more, repeat total cholesterol and HDL measurements within 5 years or with physical exam provide education on general population eating pattern, physical activity, and risk factor education. HDL less than 35 mg/dL, do lipoprotein analysis base further action on LDL levels. 

Standard lipid screening to obtain a cholesterol profile for the risk of cardiovascular disease routinely reports total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Cholesterol values are reported in milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Different organizations have made recommendations for normal cholesterol levels, but these must be interpreted carefully, as they are contingent on other risk conditions. For example, the recommendations for smokers or those with a family history of heart disease will be lower for someone without these conditions. The National Center for Cholesterol Education (NCEP) endorsed by the American Heart Association believes that LDL is the primary cholesterol component to determine therapy. LDL cholesterol accounts for 60—70% of blood serum cholesterol. An LDL less than 160 mg/dL is recommended for individuals with no more than one risk factor and less than 100 mg/dL for individuals with coronary heart disease. NCEP classifies HDL, which comprises between 20% and 30% of blood cholesterol, below 40 mg/dL as low. Triglycerides are an indirect measure of VLDL cholesterol. The NCEP considers a normal triglyceride level as less than 150 mg/dL. 

Dr. Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton believes that there is something to the chocolate effect, and he came to Belmont to tell us about his intriguing research. Vinson has determined the total polyphenol content of various chocolates and has also found a way of measuring how effective these mixtures are in preventing the oxidation of human ldl in a test tube. In other words, he has calculated a phenol antioxidant index, which takes into account both the quantity and the quality of these desirable substances. At the symposium Vinson reported that cocoa powder and dark chocolate are the best, followed by milk chocolate. Instant cocoa mixes trail the field. Then Vinson delivered the kicker chocolate has more, and better, polyphenols than fruits or vegetables and more than red wine. A forty-gram bar of dark chocolate has as many polyphenols as a cup of that widely promoted antioxidant cocktail we call tea. But there is still the matter of chocolate s fat content. Researchers tell us, though, that at least half of it is stearic acid, which does not raise blood cholesterol. 

The measurement of serum cholesterol is one of the most common tests performed in the clinical laboratory. Hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol levels) can be the result of a variety of medical conditions. Among the conditions implicated are diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and diseases of the endocrine system, liver, or kidney. High blood cholesterol levels do not point to a specific disease determination of cholesterol is used in conjunction with other clinical measurements mainly for confirmation of a particular diseased condition, rather than for diagnosis of a specific ailment. 

During each blood pressure measurement session, five measurements are recorded for each animal. The blood pressure is taken as the mean of the last 3 recordings. Urinary protein is determined by the Pyrogallol Red-molybdate method (RA-1000 Tech-nicon). Urinary sodium, creatinine and urea and serum electrolytes, creatinine, albumin, cholesterol and triacylglycerols are measured by a standard autoanalyser technique. Kidney samples are fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections are stained with the periodic acid/Schiff technique. Focal glomerular sclerosis is scored semiquantitatively by light microscopy. 

In contrast to other animals, rats do not possess a bile bladder. Therefore, cannulation of the bile duct in rats can be used as a suitable model to measure choleretic (increased bile production) or cholestatic (decreased bile production) side effect potential of drug candidates. If the test compound reduces bile production, it is recommended to investigate a putative hyperhpi-demic side effect potential of the drug candidate by its influence on total blood cholesterol and triglycerides in appropriate experimental methods. 

The manganese content of the basal diets and of urine, feces and whole blood was measured using a Varian Techtron Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Model 1275. Urine samples were read directly using a graphite furnace attachment (Model GTA-95). Fecal composites were analyzed for fat content (13). Serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were enzymatically assayed (12,14). 

Most men and women have had their blood pressure measured at one time or another. But, bearing in mind that without knowing it, many individuals have either pressure above optimal levels or frank hypertension, if you haven t had a test lately, call your doctor s office and schedule an appointment. While you re there, it would be a good idea to have your cholesterol levels checked as well. Elevated cholesterol counts are not only a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, in and of themselves, but they also predispose a person to developing hypertension. 

I strongly suggest that you ask your doctor s office to send a printed copy of your report so you can keep it in a file and use it for comparison in the years to come. Don t accept a statement that Everything s okay. Learn what your actual numbers are. Each of us should maintain a personal health file in our homes. Put your cholesterol report in that file, along with your blood pressure measurement and other medical information. (When did you last have a booster shot for tetanus, for example )... 

R118 Pearson, J.R., Dusenbury, L.J., Bakes-Martin, R., Loverde, M., Johnson,), and Byyny, R.L. (1988). Evaluation of a simple method for measuring blood cholesterol levels using non-laboratory observers. Amer. J. Med. 85, 369-374. 

Kuba, K. and Luepker, R.V. (1988), Measurement of blood cholesterol with the Reflotron analyzer evaluated. Clin. Chem. 34, 426. 

The cholesterol measuring devices that are in the CLIA waived category are listed in Table 1. At this time, the only waived analyzer that measures total and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides is the Cholestech LDX. State law will also need to be followed because some states, for example, do not permit pharmacists to act as laboratory directors or to obtain blood via finger stick. Information about obtaining CLIA certification, a list of waived devices, and contact information for state survey agencies may be found on the CLIA web site. ° ... 

In order for patients and their families to be able to appreciate the silent efficacy from therapies that slow disease progression and increase compliance, a disease biomarker will be important. This is analogous to measuring blood cholesterol for the control of cardiovascular diseases. Patients on cholesterol lowering agents may not be able to perceive any benefits but will continue to comply with taking the medicine knowing that their blood... 

Karl T., P. Prazeller, D. Mayr, A. Jordan, J. Rieder, R. Fall and W. Lindinger Human breath isoprene and its relation to blood cholesterol levels new measurements and modeling, J. Appl. Physiol. 91 (2001) 762-770. 

We have previously reported on variations in a number of physiological functions in women using oral contraceptives. These have varied from measurements of liver function to blood counts to blood cholesterol determinations. 

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